Isotropic-nematic phase transition: Influence of intramolecular flexibility using a fused hard sphere model

Carl McBride, Carlos Vega, and Luis G. MacDowell
Phys. Rev. E 64, 011703 – Published 14 June 2001
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Abstract

The role of flexibility on the liquid crystal isotropic-nematic phase transition has been studied by means of Monte Carlo simulation. We present equations of state for the isotropic-nematic branches and, in the isotropic phase, numerically calculated values for the virial coefficients B2, B3, and B4. We have studied two models: 11 hard sphere monomers fused in a linear configuration with a reduced bond length of 0.6 and a 15-monomer version of this model in which monomers at one end of the chain become flexible. We have observed spontaneous nematic liquid crystal formation for both of the fully rigid models, and also for models with up to six flexible monomers in the tail. We conclude that molecular flexibility has a strongly destabilizing effect on the nematic phase. This is probably due to the decrease in shape anisotropy that flexible tails allow.

  • Received 20 December 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.64.011703

©2001 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Carl McBride, Carlos Vega, and Luis G. MacDowell*

  • Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain

  • *Present address: Institut fur Physik, Johannes Gutenberg–Universitat Mainz, WA31, D-55099, Mainz, Germany.

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Issue

Vol. 64, Iss. 1 — July 2001

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